Tuning peg



June 5, 1928.

1,672,348 w. N. SHARPE TUNI NG PEG Filed April 8, 1925 Patented June 5,1928 PATENT OFFICE.

WAYNE N; SHARPE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

, TUNING PEG.

mismafiled April 8, 1926. Serial No. 100,754.

This invention relates to improvements in tuning pegs or keys forstringed mstruments, and the primary object of theinvention is toprovide devices of this character embodying novel locking featureswhereby an even degree of friction. may be maintained for preventingcounter movement of the tuning peg or key. y a; u I A further object ofthe invention is to provide a novel type of tuning peg which is of suchconstruction as to eliminate the necessity of frequent adjustment beingmade to the, peg for obtaining the desired friction. 7 Other objects andadvantages of the vention will be apparent during thecourse of thefollowing detailed description, taken in connection with the accompaning drawing forming a part of this specification and in which drawing 1t e Figure 1 is a viewshowing a gear type of peg as constructed inaccordance with my invention, and showing the same applied to the headportion of a stringed instrument.

Figure ,2 is a view substantially similar to Figure 1 andshowingportions of the gear pegin section for illustratingdetails ofconstruction.

Figure 3 is aview part in section and part in side elevation, andshowing the friction retaining means incorporated in, a friction -ylgure 4 1s a view part in sectlonand part in side elevation andshowingthe frict on retaining means incorporated in a ban O 5th 1gure 5 1s atransverse sectionon line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Referring to the draw ng in detail, and

wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding partsthroughout I the several views, the letter A designatestuning s of theear type, B a tuning peg of the fr i ztion type and C a modified type offriction peg constituting a ban o 5th peg. r

, Referring particularly toFlgures 1 and 2, the gear peg A is shownapplied to the head portion H of any suitable type I of stringedinstrument. The gear peg A embodies the usual gear case 10 which may besecured to the underside of the head H as by suitable fastening meanssuch as screws 11. This gear case 10 and which is of ordinaryconstruction, serves as a mounting for the lower end of a string post 12which projects upwardly through the head H and is apertured as at 13 forreceiving a string in the usual manner. Extending from the lower oropposite side of the gear case 10, is a button post 14 and which post isjournaled n the lower wall 15 of the gear case. Rigldly carried by theinner end of the button post 14, and disposed within the gear case 10,1s a gear 16 which is adapted to mesh with suitable other gears mountedin the gear case, for imparting a rotary movement to the string post 12upon rotation of the button post 14. The construction of the gear case10, and gears arranged in the case for imparting rotary movement to thespring post 12 upon turning of the button post 14 is well known, andforms no part of this invention. The gear 16 forms a shoulder 17 at theinner end of the button post 14, and which shoulder is adapted to bearagainst the inner surface of the lower Wall 15 of the gear case in amanner for preventing withdrawal of the button post from the gear case.The post l4has an intermediate threaded portion 18 disposed exteriorlyof the gear case 10, and extending in axial alignment with thethreadedportion 18 is a stem portion 19 which is preferably square incross section. Provided in the stem portion 19 and opening at the endthereof, is a threaded bore 20 for receiving a threaded retaining screw21 which extends in axial alignment with the post 14.

A substantially flat button 22 having a shoulder 23 formed at its innerend is provided with a bore having a squared portion 24 for receivingthe square stem portion of r engagement with the outer surface of thelower wall 16 of the-gear case by means of i a retaining nut 27 turnedupon the threaded portion 18 of the button post. Thus it will beseenthat upon turning of the retaining nut 27, that a binding action will becreatedon the lower wall 15 of the gear case by means of the shoulder 17acting on the inner face of the wall 15 and the disc 26 acting upon theouter surface of the wall. The degree of rotation of the nut 27 willdeter mine the degree of friction created on the wall 15 of the gearcase. A'jam or lock nut 28 threaded upon the portion 18below' theretaining nut 27, serves as a retaining means for the nut 27 after thenut 27 has been turnedto create the desired frlction.

. The retaining screw 21 may then be turned into-the bore 20 which willforce the shoulder 23 of the button into engagement-with the outer faceof the jam nut for acting as alock for the jam nut.

In the usual construction of gear pegs as illustrated in Figures 1 and2, the shoulder 23 of the'button is moved intdbinding engagement withthe friction disc 26 by means of the retaining screw 21 for applying thedesired friction to the peg. This method has not been entirelysatisfactory owing to the fact that the retaining screw works loose dueto the turning of the buttointhus lessening the binding actionUPOIIthGCCllSC and allowing too free rotation of the button post. Thisnecessitates frequent adjusting of the screw 21 for maintaining an evendegree of friction between thedisc 26 and the gear case. These buttonsare'usually made of celluloid or of a rubber composition, anddue toatmospheric conditions, expand and contract so that an' even degree offriction is not at all times'maintained for preventing too free rotationof the button post.

" By so threading an intermediate portion which is adapted forfrictional engagement the head H and be locked in with the upper side ofthe head H. The-re taining nut 27 is provided with a' tapering end forseating in a conical shaped opening or-depression 31 providedin theunder face of the head H. This nut 27 is'adapted to be turned intofrictional engagement with its adjusted position by the jam nut 28. a

In Figure 4, and which showing is of a banjo 5th peg, the retainingnut27 serves to force the sleeve 35 into binding engagement within theconical bushing 36 which is securedin the'neok N. The bushing 36 actsupon a head or shoulder 37 formed at the inner end of the button post.The sleeve 35 is provided with a squared bore for receiving the squaredportion 38 of the post, and it can be seen that upon turning of theretaining nut 27 that a binding action will be created between thesleeve 35 and conical shaped bushing 36. 1

'- From the foregoing description it will be apparent that aneflicienttype of tuning peg I has been provided embodying novel features'Whereby an even degree of friction will be maintained upon the pegs fora considerable length of time without frequent adjustment Changes indetail may be made to the specific form-s of the invention herein shownanddescribed, without departing from the scope of the spirit of theinvention or the following claims.

I claim: 1. A tuning peg including a-button post having ashoulder athreaded portion and'a stemportion disposed in the respective ordergiven, a retaining nut mounted upon the threaded portion for movementtowardsaid shoulder, a lock nut mounted upon the threaded portion forlocking relation with the retaining nut, and an operating buttoncarried'by the stem portion of the post.

2, A tuning peg including a button post having a shoulder, a threadedportion and a stem portion disposed in respective axial alignments, aretaining nut mounted uponthe threaded portion for movement toward saidshoulder, a lock nut-mounted upon the threaded portion for lockingrelation with the retaining nut, and an operating button carried by thestem portion of the post and frictionally engaging said lock nut.

3. A tuning peg including'a button post having a shoulder a threadedportion and'a stem portion disposed in respective axial alignment, aretaining nut mounted upon the threaded portion for movementtoward saidshoulder, a locknut mounted upon the threaded portion for lockingtheretaining nut in adjusted positions, a button mounted upon the stemportion of the post and engaging the locknut, and means for drawing thebutton into binding engagement with said lock nut.

(t. A tuning peg including a button portion having a shoulder a threadedportion and a stem portion disposed in axial alignment,'a retaining nutmounted upon the threaded portion for movement toward. said shoulder, alock nut mounted upon the threaded portion for locking relation with theretaining nut, a button slidably mounted uponthe'stem portion of thepost and having itsinner end engagingsaid lock nut,iand retaining meansfor the button for moving the same longituidnally of the stemportioninto binding'engagement with the lock nut.

5. A tuning peg including a button formed with a shoulder, anintermediate threaded portion, and a stem-portion provided'with athreaded bore, a retaining nut mounted upon the threaded portion formovement toward said shoulder, a look nut mounted upon thethreadedportion for locking relation with the retaining nut,a buttonslidably mounted upon the stem portion of the post and engaging at itsinner end with said lock nut, and a retainnig screw threade ed into thebore of said stem, and having a head'engaging the button for drawing thebutton into binding engagement with said upon the threaded portion forlocking relation with the retaining nut, a button provided with a borehaving a squared portion for slidably receivingthe squared stem portionof the post, and a. retaining screw threaded in the bore of said stemand having a head engaging the button whereby the button may be drawninto binding engagement withsaid look nut.

7. A tuning peg including a post having a shoulder formed at one endthereof and said post including a threaded portion and a squared stemportion, a button detachably carried by the squared stem portion andfriction retaining means carried by the threaded portion of the post andcapable of being locked in adjusted positions relative to the shoulderof said post.

8. A tuning peg'comprising a gear case, a string post carried by saidgear case, a button post carried by the gear case and having a shoulderformed at its inner end and engaging the inner surface of the gear case,said button post including a threaded portion and a stem portiondisposed exteriorly of the gear case, means mounted in the gear case forimparting movement from the button post to the string post, a frictiondisc carried by the button post and engaging the outer surface of thegear case, a retaining nut mounted upon the threaded portion of the postfor creating a frictional action between the friction disc and gearcase, a lock nut carried by the threaded portion ofthe post and servingto prevent further rotation of the retaining nut, a button carried bythe stem portion of the post and engaging at its inner end said locknut, and retaining means for securing the button to the post and drawingthe button into binding engagement with said lock nut.

9. Atuning peg comprising a post formed with ahead, a plain portion, athreaded portion, and a squared stem portion arranged in respectiveaxial alignment, a bushing mounted upon the post and engaging the headportion thereof, a sleeve mounted upon the plain portion of the post andmovable longitudinally of the post into frictional engagement with saidbushing, a retaining nut threaded upon the threaded portion of the postand engaging said sleeve for movement of the sleeve toward said bushing,a lock nut mounted upon the threaded portion of the post and adapted forlocking engagement with said retaining nut, a button nonrotatablymounted upon the squared stem portion of the post and having its innerend engage said lock nut, and a retaining screw extending through saidbutton and engaging said post for drawing the button into bindingengagement with the lock nut.

WAYNE N. SHARPE.

